When it comes to wellness, there are a number of seemingly harmless moves employers make that can doom a program’s chances of success.

Here are three mistakes employers make all too often, courtesy of Brad Cooper, CEO of US Corporate Wellness, Inc.:

1. Not following up

When employers complain initiatives like biometric screenings just aren’t effective, there’s a good chance they’re practicing what Cooper calls a “check-the-box” approach.

And the problem here is that employers aren’t offering the necessary follow-up to make these wellness initiatives effective.

In order for screenings and assessments to be successful, employers must coach workers on what to do with their results.

2. Focusing on problem staffers

Granted, wellness programs are geared toward improving the health of the workforce. So it’s natural to pay extra attention to the staffers who need the most help – not the ones who do triathlons in their spare time.

But focusing too heavily on the least healthy employees often backfires on firms. When employers single out problem employees, it paints the wellness effort as negative.

Result: Employees resist, and participation and engagement suffer.

3. Relying too heavily on tools

There’s no shortage of tech tools and modules that promise to give employers greater ROI on their wellness efforts.

But these tools don’t account for human nature. And because your workforce is made up of such a diverse group of personalities, relying too heavily on these tools is a mistake.

Instead, employers need to find a way to tailor the program’s message to individual workers and use tools to reinforce that message whenever possible.